official awards of the 16th FIFDH
You will have the opportunity to see the winning films on Sunday March 18 at the Cinémas du Grütli.
The trophies of the Grand Awards have been designed by Clément Brazille, in partnership with the HEAD-Genève.
Creative Documentary Section
The International Jury of the creative documentary section was presided by Abigail Disney, accompanied by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Marie-Pierre Gracedieu, Omar Robert Hamilton and Christian Lutz.
Note from the Creative Documentary Jury:
"We have been faced with a terrific challenge as the documentary jury. The quality and variety of films on show demonstrated both the range of injustices at play in our world and all the different ways they are being resisted. We congratulate the festival and its director for their excellent curation of films."
Grand Geneva award
Offered by the City and Canton of Geneva (10’000 CHF)
Stranger in Paradise, by Guido Hendrikx
"For its innovative form and cuttingly intelligent engagement with the key moral issue facing the world today. Stranger in Paradise is packed with argument and information as well as being deeply affecting. It stayed with each of us, and we imagine it will trigger vigorous and fresh debate. It carries within it the possibility of reigniting our relationship to the concept of inalienable rights and deserves to be seen as widely as possible."
- To be discovered this Sunday at 8:30 pm at the Cinémas du Grütli. Info and tickets
GILDA VIEIRA DE MELLO AWARD, AS A TRIBUTE TO HER SON SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO
Offered by the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation (5’000 CHF)
The Cleaners, by Moritz Riesewieck et Hans Block
"This film explores the intricate issues presented by the rapidly accelerating digital matrix that resists regulation, let alone true comprehension. This film challenges each of us as individuals to understand our own positions within the tentacles of the new information-industrial complex."
- To be discovered this Sunday at 6:45 pm at the Cinémas du Grütli. Info and tickets
Special mentions of the creative documentary JURY
The Silence of Others, by Almudena Carracedo & Robert Bahar
"This work is a visually striking and poignant exploration of the
long search for justice. We were moved by the representation of enduring commitment,
the potential inter-nationality of law and the importance of – and the
opportunities offered by – Universal Jurisdiction."
The Other Side of Everything, by Mila Turajlic
"A film that offers a portrait of one extraordinary lifetime of activism and engagement, a recognition that the fight for justice is punctuated by frequent disappointments and failures that must be overcome. It is a beautifully crafted gem of a film that honors family, principles and the value of home in the midst of a constantly changing world."
YOUTH JURY AWARD – DOCUMENTARY
Offered by the Peace Brigades International (PBI) (CHF 500)
The Distant Barking of Dogs, by Simon Lereng-Wilmont
"For its poetic side that touched us, and its image quality that plunges us into an emotional story. The story of a war close to home, which we do not hear enough about. A story from the perspective of children, which transports us into a constant aesthetic research in the middle of the Ukrainian conflict. A childhood story that is confronted with a tragic reality."- To be discovered this Sunday at 6:45 pm at the Cinémas du Grütli. Info and tickets
Youth Jury Documentary Competition: Ihsanullah Babakerkhel, Rina Bajrami, Lilou Herrmann-Garcia, Alice Mammana, Mauricko Randrianasolo, Cat-Vi Skyler Tran
fiction section
The Fiction Competition Jury was chaired by Aïssa Maïga, alongside Khalo Matabane, Teresa Villaverde and Philippe Cottier.
Fiction grand award
Offered by the Hélène and Victor Barbour Foundation (CHF 10’000)
Los versos del olvido, by Alireza Khatami
"This film deals with a timeless subject, namely the difficulty of living under a dictatorship. But also of dying there. The director explores this serious subject with an impressive aesthetic approach."
- To be discovered this Sunday at 6:45 pm at the Cinémas du Grütli. Info and tickets
YOUTH JURY AWARD – FICTION
Offered by the Eduki Foundation (CHF 500)
Matar a Jesús, by Laura Mora
"This feature has particularly moved us by its remarkable aestheticism and its ability to convey the feelings of the protagonists through images.The director was able to free herself from the stereotypes and codes of a youth confronted with daily violence. The evolution of relationships between characters is fueled by excellent acting."
- To be discovered this Sunday at 4:15 pm at the Cinémas du Grütli. Info and tickets
SPECIAL MENTION OF THE YOUTH JURY – FICTION
Black Cop, by Cory Bowles
"The innovative form and the powerful message of the movie Black Cop caught our attention. We found the work on sound and music particularly remarkable and the message conveyed by the film made us want to take action."
Youth Jury for Fiction Competition: Gabrielle Bercin, Leila Perroulaz, Louise Radi, Matilde Ravano, Louison Ryser, Noa Sbai
grand reportage award
Offered by the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) (CHF 5’000)
Awarded by the OMCT Jury, to a filmmaker from the Grand Reportage section, whose film demonstrates his commitment to human rights, and to support the writing of his/her next film.
Libye - Anatomie d’un crime , by Cécile Allegra
"This film dissects the doubly unfair paradox of torture - in addition to being tortured, the victims are locked in silence. Because they cannot understand what they have suffered, for fear of reprisals and because of the shame that overwhelms them, especially in Libya where victims suffer sexual torture. This film shows how vital the investigators’ work is in providing justice to relieve these victims and prevent new crimes."
- To be discovered this Sunday at 2:15 pm at the Cinémas du Grütli. Info and tickets
CHAMP-DOLLON jury prize
Free Men, by Anne-Frédérique Widmann
"Dear Kenneth,
We heard your voice as an echo through the limbo, where the film’s images linked us to a certain reality, asking us to know if there was something behind despair.
Is it another breath that we also call life?
Thank you for sharing with us your strength, hope and courage.
Thank you and congratulations for choosing life.
We also hope to find you, perhaps, on a beach in Cuba with Isabelle.
As Saint-Exupéry said, ’You only see with the heart’."
BRENAZ jury prize
A l’Ecole des philosophes, by Fernand Melgar
"The Brenaz jury awards the prize for best film to A l’École des Philosophes (At the Philosophers’ School) by Fernand Melgar. This film is, from our point of view, a great message of hope. We were touched by the unconditional love of these parents for their children and moved by the dedication of educators. It is a beautiful testimony of perseverance and patience! We are proud to present this award to Mr. Melgar, the children and their parents and teachers."
CLAIRIÈRE jury prize
"We would like to emphasize that we enjoyed the great team spirit which revealed an incredible solidarity between Moussa and the young players of the Brussels BX. We were also touched by Moussa’s perseverance and the generosity with which this film tells the lives of all the people who meet. Thank you for presenting us with this movie!"
hug hospital jury prize
Les enfants de la Jungle, by Stéphane Marchetti et Thomas Dandois.
"This film revealed a shocking place that deeply affected us. It caused us to think. We want to stress that it was difficult to decide on the award for the best film. That’s why we would also like to give a special mention to Kenneth Michiels’ Stranger and say a big thank you to Moussa, the protagonist of the film."